Mark stars in derby day win

KEITH PEEL

Skipper Mark Thomas shone with bat and ball to steer Swardeston to a nail-biting victory over newcomers Horsford in their opening Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League match.

They won by two wickets at Manor Park, where Thomas took four for 25 and scored 41 not out.

Vauxhall Mallards also made a winning start, beating Norwich by five wickets at Ingham, but Fakenham crashed to a 239-9 run defeat at Godmanchester.

Bury St Edmunds launched their title defence with a 74-run defeat of Clacton, while Cambridge Granta beat Mildenhall by seven wickets.

Former Leicestershire spinner George Walker was Swardeston's other key bowler, taking four for 34 as Horsford were dismissed for 138.

Norfolk spinner Chris Brown (37 not) and rising star youngster Jaik Mickleburgh (20) produced the most productive partnership, putting on 53 for the seventh wicket.

Swardeston seemed to be cruising to success at 85 for two, with Sapumal Herathge scoring 41 and Richard Sims 28, but they then lost six wickets for eight runs in eight overs.

Thomas, though, guided them to victory, helped by Matthew Hogg.

Brown was Horsford's outstanding bowler with five for 38.

Martin Addison and Richard Moores both bagged four wickets as Norwich were bowled out for 163 runs, Joe Brennan top scoring with 37 not out.

James Spelman (61 not) and Carl Amos (60) spearheaded the reply.

Matt Pateman made 120 not out as Godmanchester amassed 309 for four against Fakenham, who were then bowled out for just 70, with Elliot Baldwin taking five for 27.

Chris Warn scored 73 as Bury compiled 227 for nine at the Victory Ground, where Chris Swallow was Clacton's most successful bowler with four for 28.

Andrew Tweedie then captured three wickets as Clacton were dismissed for 153.

Peter Worthington contributed 77 and Richard Ford 45 to Mildenhall's 239 for seven total at Clare College.

Jacques Du Toit top scored with 72 not out in the 242 for three reply.